''We parted having such an ambiguous air between us. I am sorry.''


    Ste''s voice sounded in Kyran''s head before she even finished what she spoke aloud.


    Others might think Ste''s speech was meant to annoy La. But it appeared she did it to conceal the fact she was talking to Kyran telepathically.


    ''You should not havee,'' Kyran replied, his expression remaining unreadable.


    Meanwhile, La was not happy at being ignored— not to mention getting her ns foiled by someone who was supposed to be her ''best friend''s'' sessor.


    Apart from that, that sessor shared her best friend''s name.


    La was not stupid. She knew the two were talking telepathically.


    Not that it mattered.


    Even as a Time mage, it was impossible for Ste to halt time for long. For this reason, La chose to proceed with her next n.


    Since detaining Kyran had failed, La could only let him handle the rest.


    It wasmon for someone to prepare backup ns when their initial n backfires.


    In La''s case, if they could detain Kyran, she nned on having Ane, Soll, and Osric keep him busyThis was La''s n B.


    However, she now had a n C. She would still use Ane, Soll, and Osric, but only to buy time until Obstruction gets the help he set out to get.


    As for who would deal with the rest of the ''high-level'' members from Kyran''s side, La already had those covered. Besides, once the veilpletely shattered, she could release the Macabre cier''s sentient and let it run amock.


    With this in mind, La focused on using her magic to proceed with the n.


    "Speaking of being stubborn," Ste continued to speak. "I remembered my aunt telling me that in the First''s diary, she had mentioned one of her ''best friends'' was stubborn to a fault."


    She looked at La with a wry smile before continuing, "I wonder if the First was talking about you when she said that."


    While she said those things out loud, she continued to talk to Kyran telepathically.


    ''That is a very cold thing to say to someone who just saved your life,'' Ste replied, feeling disappointed at Kyran''s indifference. But she knew he only said that because he was worried— whether he was worried about her or the possibility that her arrival could also mean ''she'' had arrived, Ste chose to feign ignorance. She would rather think his reaction was because he genuinely worried about her.


    Before Kyran could reply, Ste added, ''Besides, if I did not interfere and you released your magic, True Void''s awakening would have beenpromised. His body would then be damaged and you would have been captured by the Macabre cier.''


    Kyran''s eyes narrowed at Ste''s words.


    It was evident from how she said those things that she was not merely making a conjecture. If he guessed correctly, she witnessed that scenario y out when she ''look'' into the future.


    At that same time, La replied with a curtugh, "Why do you even bring that up? So what if I am stubborn? What does that have to do with anything?"


    "Maybe to you, it is not important—" Ste paused dramatically, then continued, "Actually, it is important to you but did not realize it yet."


    Then she turned to Obstruction, who watched the whole exchange silently from inside the Water Cage.


    "You are a Sovereign from another ne," Ste started. "If I remember correctly, it is... Obstruction. A powerful Sovereign with Space innate magic— who developed while having Void magic as its basis."


    Obstruction frowned at her words. As far as he was concerned, they had only met. How was it that she knew things about him?


    "Oh, I do know a few more things," Ste added as if reading Obstruction''s mind.


    "Is that so?"


    "Yes. Like, how you are called a Sovereign but in terms of mage-level you are already above that."


    Since Obstruction''s face was hidden beneath a huge hood, and all they could see were dimly lit eyes from time to time, it was impossible to see his reaction; nevertheless, when the surrounding temperature dropped suddenly, they knew he was affected by her words.


    Kyran, Tritus, and the rest observing the scene were surprised at what Ste said.


    Tritus and several spectators were surprised that there was an even higher level than a Sovereign.


    As for Cade and Kyran, what surprised them was how Obstruction''s energy leaked out even when the Water Cage suppressed it. Aside from that, he was under Ste''s magic influence. For it to leak out and affect the surroundings, even with all that, was proof of Ste''sment about Obstruction''s level being higher than a Sovereign.


    They already considered that possibility when he did not appear affected by the Sovereign''s Cradle after entering the Human ne.


    As a matter of fact, Kyran did not remember thetter activating when Obstruction descended.


    Nevertheless, hearing Ste say it with such an affirmative tone only gave Cade and Kyran an iing headache.


    After experiencing the Tower of Tribtions, discovering that there were so many nes outside the Human ne, and knowing that the highest authority one could have on a ne was bing its Sovereign, Cade and Kyran had wondered if being a Sovereign was truly the end of the line for a mage.


    Because if it was, then their goal did not seem to be that too far off.


    Of course, only Cade and Kyran would dare think this way. For normal mages, bing a Master mage was already a task they could not even consider bing a Magus in their lifetime.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    In any case, if Obstruction''s level was higher than a Sovereign''s, their faction could truly be considered a contender for the big win in the uing War of the Sovereigns.


    But that was not what gave Cade and Kyran a headache. It was more on the fact that Obstruction— even with such a high magic attainment— would still consider asking for help from the outside.


    This could only mean that whoever he would call was stronger than him.


    Could Nn prevent them from reentering the Human ne if that was the case?


    ''What are you doing?'' Kyran asked Ste, not understanding what she was really up to.


    However, she did not reply this time around.


    "You don''t have to showcase your might to threaten me," Ste continued, her smile turning impish. "You can try and flex your magic energy for all I care, but you must remember that you are still inside my magic''s influence. If you force it, your magic core will suffer."


    "Time mage," Obstruction finally spoke after a few minutes of silence. "I have heard about you, albeit a little. If I had known, I would have first recruited you to our cause."


    "Obstruction!" La shouted in indignation after hearing him.


    "You do not have to sound angry."


    "I do not sound angry. I AM ANGRY!"


    "A Time mage is a rare existence. She will be a huge asset for the faction."


    "So what if she could manipte Time? It is not like she could reverse what already happened. If she did, then all of these would not have happened—."


    "I did not expect how much you belittle what I can do."


    Ste chuckled at La''s ''tantrum.''


    La scowled despite herself as she looked at thetter seethingly.


    "You... are not going to say, you can actually reverse Time."


    Ste looked at La and only smiled in response.


    Hearing this exchange, the light underneath Obstruction''s hood brightened slightly. Apparently, that notion sounded tempting.


    Ste did not admit it, but Obstruction had seen and met so many people before— regardless if they looked human or not— and knew her smile just now was a silent admission.


    ''If we can also have her in the faction... Maybe... just maybe... he can have that back...''


    ''Ste!'' Kyran could no longer stay silent and called out to her telepathically.


    ''I can only do this... buy time for you and True Void. Just as you said, I am not cut out for battle. I''ve always been sheltered and had few encounters with other mages. I will only be a hindrance.''


    ''I did not say that—.''


    ''Not you of this time.''


    ''You—.''


    ''I have not explored what else my magic could do. But I know that as the Time mage, I can reverse Time. However, that will only be ast resort.''


    Kyran did not need Ste to borate on that.


    Obviously, if she chose to reverse Time, everything that had happened would be nulled.


    Bing the new Void Master... the Chaos Era... even the existence of the original Dark Sage.


    No.


    Kyran shook his head.


    That should not be possible.


    Ste could probably reverse time up to a specific moment. It might not even be that long.


    A few days? Weeks? Months. But not a millennia or more.


    Still, she would have to pay a huge price once she did.


    A price Kyran would never allow her to give.


    Her life.